Introduction to Theatre

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Introduction to Theatre
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Drama Combines aspects of all three Literary
Genres

• Literature
• Drama can be fictional or factual
• It can also be commercial or literary
• Drama shares many of the common literary elements
  like plot, setting, characterization, and dialog
• Poetry
• Many plays are written in verse (for example,
  Oedipus Rex and Othello)
• Drama
• Its unique characteristic is that it is written
  to be performed

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Three Major Characteristics of Drama

• 1. It has a direct, immediate impact
• Advantages
• Simultaneous impressions occur
• Performance can be more expressive than a
  readers imagination
• Disadvantages
• Limited to one viewpointobjective (dramatic)
• Writers try to overcome this by using the
  soliloquy and the aside to accomplish what the
  omniscient viewpoint achieves in the short story
  genre

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• 2. Drama effectively commands the spectators
  attention
• Advantage The playwrights power extends beyond
  words alone
• Disadvantage The materials one can use on stage
  are limited

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• 3. The experience of watching a play is communal
• Advantage Impact is intensified.
• Disadvantages There is a need for brevity, swift
  movement of plot, and intermissions

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Plays are meant to be seen. However, there are
justifications for reading a play

• It is better to know some masterpieces by reading
  them than never to know them at all
• Reading allows fuller use of the imagination
• It allows one to study at leisure
• It allows for review
• It permits one to see the original intent of the
  author without intervention by a director

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The History of Western Drama is Rooted in Ancient
Greece
A Greek theatre on Mount Parnassus above Delphi
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Greek Theatre

• Ancient Greek theatre developed as part of
  religious festivals
• A choric hymn called the dithyramb was composed
  in honor of Dionysus, the god of wine and
  fertility
• The hymn was sung by a chorus of 50 men
• Over time, Thespis, the first actor, added dialog
  between one actor and the chorus

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Thespis

• Added the first actor to interact with the
  dithyramb chorus
• Called the actor the protagonist
• Is said to have performed in Athens in 534 B.C.
• The term thespian, (having to do with drama or
  theater) comes from his name.
• When the Dionysian festivals changed to drama
  competitions, Thespis was the first winner

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Golden Age of Greece (480 - 338 BC)

• Featured 3 great tragic dramatists
• Aeschylus (525-456 BC)
• Sophocles (496-405 BC)
• Euripedes (480-407 BC)

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• Aeschylus (around 484 B.C.)
• Changed the dithyramb into drama
• Added a second actor
• Added props and scenery
• Reduced the chorus from 50 to 15
• Sophocles
• Added a third actor
• Changed the focus from interactions between
  humans and the gods to interactions between
  humans
• Euripides
• Reflects modern attitudes
• Writes about all real people, not just royalty
• Plays have a realistic flavor

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Physical Conventions of Greek Theatre

• Semi-circular tiers of seats hollowed out of the
  hillside
• Seated up to 17,000 spectators
• Orchestra
• 60 ft. in diameter with altar at center
• Place where the chorus performed
• Performances occurred in daylight
• Chorus of 15
• Sang and danced in response to the actors

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Chorus

• Forerunner of our divisions of plays into acts
  and scenes

• Function in telling story
• converses with main character(s)
• sometimes comments on the action
• offers words of warning, advice
• voices reactions of spectators

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Actors

• Maximum of 3 with speaking roles
• Could double, triple their roles
• All male
• Wore masks
• Wore buskins
• Elevator boots to increase stature

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Other Characteristics of Greek Drama

• Some unhappy endings
• Few or no horrible scenes on stage
• Female roles played by men
• Simple stage props
• Religious in origin and spirit
• Romantic love not important
• Employed Aristotles classical unities

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Aristotles Rules and Purpose for Ancient Drama

• Classical Unities
• Unity of time (action must occur within 24 hours)
• Unity of place (action takes place in one
  location)
• Unity of action (single plot)
• Catharsis
• Socially acceptable purging of emotions such as
  anger, fear, or grief

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Two Main Types of Greek Dramawith sub-genres

• Tragedy
• Melodrama
• Comedy
• Farce

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Characteristics of Greek Tragedy

• Displays human greatness
• Emphasizes human freedom
• Exposes the nobility of man
• Presents challenges to the vision of human
  possibility
• Adheres to Aristotles classical unities

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Characteristics of the Tragic Hero

• Overpowering individual
• Usually named in the plays title
• Judged by moral standards
• Isolated
• Lofty and noble
• Has a tragic flaw

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Melodrama

• A sub-genre of Tragedy
• Attempts to arouse feelings of fear and pity
• Uses crude means
• Oversimplified conflict

• Emphasis on plot
• Good triumphs over evil
• Happy ending
• Usually escapist

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Characteristics of Comedy

• Emphasizes commonness of the group
• Protagonist tends to be a type
• Protagonist is judged by social standards
• Plots are less likely to have organic unity
• Usually happy ending

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Farce

• A sub-genre of Comedy
• Aims at explosive laughter
• Crude means
• Violent, usually physical conflicts

• Emphasis on plot, improbable situations,
  coincidence
• Coarse wit, practical jokes, physical action
• Usually escapist

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• This ends the introductory
• discussion of drama and theatre